Travel in the Middle East

I finally received a very helpful e-mail from the National Passport Information Center regarding the obtaining of a second passport for my potential travel in the middle east this summer. As it is almost impossible to find this information online, I am pasting the e-mail here:

The Department of State's general policy is that no person shall bear or be in possession of more than one valid passport of the same type at any one time, unless authorized by the Department.

There are some circumstances in which the issuance of a second fee passport is appropriate.

They are:

1. When a foreign country will deny a visa or entry to the bearer of a passport containing markings or visas showing travel to certain other countries. For example, travel between Israel and certain Arab countries. If a traveler has an entry stamp or visa from Israel in their passport, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt and Syria will deny them entry.

2. When a passport needed for immediate travel is unavailable due to prolonged delays in processing a visa application, or some other governmental process for which the passport was required.

To request a second passport, you must complete a DS-11 or DS-82 (depending on whether or not you are able to send in the current passport), include 2 passport photos, appropriate fees, and evidence of U.S. Citizenship. You must also include a signed and dated statement explaining the nature of travel and why you need a second passport. (See below)

A second passport is valid for 2 years and can be renewed with a DS-82 form. You cannot use the DS-5504 form to extend the passport validity.

When renewing a second valid passport, you will need to submit a new application and pay the application fee. You MUST be able to demonstrate that the second passport is still needed and submit a letter explaining the continued need.

To apply, submit:

1. Completed DS-82 form (if you are submitting your valid passport) or DS-11 (if you are unable to submit the passport)

2. Valid passport or other evidence of U.S. citizenship (with DS-11)

3. Two new passport photos

4. Letter explaining why second passport is needed (must include the countries to be visited and the nature of the travel). (See below)

5. Check for passport fees (include fee for special mailing if requested)

Example of Statement:

"I intend to travel to _________ and ________. In view of the restrictive entry requirements of one of the countries that I will be visiting, it is impossible for me to complete my trip using my current passport.

Consequently, I am requesting the issuance of a second passport to facilitate my travel to the countries mentioned above. I understand one passport will be limited to two years and that it may be extended at the end of that period if my need to travel to the aforementioned countries continues.

Should either passport be lost or stolen, I will report the circumstances to the Passport Office or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate immediately.

(Signature)"

If applying with form DS-11, it will be necessary for you to apply in person through an authorized acceptance facility.  For the location of your nearest acceptance facilities, visit: http://iafdb.travel.state.gov/

How many coincidentally difficult things can one person succesfully deal with?

I guess I'll find out in the next few months. Apparently I've been a little too ambitious/greedy with my summer plans. The issues, as they have dawned on me:

1. In order to obtain a Spanish visa, I need (among other things that I CAN acquire in a timely manner) a clean bill of lack of criminal record. This involves going to get finger printed at the local police station (on the agenda for today), and then mailing this, along with a couple other forms, to some FBI Processing office in Virginia. What I didn't know the first time I looked this up (because, of course, I didn't scroll all the way to the bottom of the page) is that this process takes thirteen weeks. So, assuming this is true, the earliest I would possibly have this shiny piece of paper is July 5th.
2. My current plan has me leaving the country with no plans of returning before the winter on June 16th.

3. Once I have obtained the said shiny piece of paper, I then must go, in person , to the Spanish Consulate in Los Angeles, and submit it, along with 10 other documents. Among those documents will also be my passport which will not be returned to me until my visa is processed. Which, according to the website, takes exactly "a very long time".

4. Apparently, the US Government has realized that sometimes bureaucracy is an issue. Therefore, if you need to travel internationally and your passport is being held up by a consulate or embassy for visa processing, you are eligible to apply for a second passport. Woohoo! Problem (partially) solved. I still have to somehow present myself to the Los Angeles Spanish Consulate while being on the other side of the Atlantic, but let's assume, for the purpose of this post, that I have $1300 to spare and can fly back to show them my pretty face.

5. The reason for my departure from the US on June 16th, however, is my other plans - namely, spending a month in Israel and then traveling with Gap Adventures to Turkey, Syria, Egypt and Jordan. Now, assuming I currently have in my possession the 2nd passport that the government issued me (while my other one is being held by the Spanish consulate), I can travel worry free, right? Wrong. Apparently, the government of Syria (and officially, Jordan and Egypt, but apparently its not a problem there) will not issue an entry visa to any person possessing a stamp from the Israeli government in their passport.

6. But wait, the US government also provides for this! They state that if you are traveling from Israel to any of the above listed countries, you can apply for a second passport. Only, wait, I already did that. How about a third, guys? No? Yeah, didn't think so.


My only option seems to be traveling on my second, blank passport, and asking the ever so friendly (oh, and smiley too) immigration officials that welcome you at Passport Control upon landing in Israel to not stamp my passport. Yeah. That'll happen.

Assuming it doesn't, I can then hope that Syria will enforce their policies as "strictly" as Jordan and Egypt, and will let me in anyway. Yeah. Even more likely...Update. Just looked up the visa information on the Gap Adventures Website: 


SYRIA: As part of your tour we are able to organize group entry visas to Syria free of charge. To enable us to organize your visa, you will need to provide Gap Adventures with your passport number, issue date and expiry date a minimum of 15 days prior to departure. Unfortunately , if we do not receive your passport information at least 15 days prior to departure, we are unable to guarantee that we will be able to organize your visa. It is vital that there are no Israeli stamps of any kind in your passports, nor any entrance or exit stamps from neighboring border checkpoints which would indicate a visit to Israel. Your passports must be valid for at least 6 months prior to the departure date. Please note that there is a departure tax of 550 Syrian Pounds.

Plans Solidifying!

I haven't written in a while, and although I'm disappointed with myself for that, I am happy to see that I have made progress in my decision making since the last time I wrote. My tentative plan for the next 6 months resembles the following:

May 27th: Fly to Barcelona for Admitted Weekend
May 29th/30th: Admitted Weekend
June 1st: Fly back to LA/San Diego
June 18th: Last day with Capgemini
June 20/21: Fly to Barcelona to Apartment Hunt with Alexa (1 of hopefully 2 roomates that I will have!)
July 27th: Fly to Israel
July 28th: Start program in Ashdod: Beach, Hebrew, Volunteer
July 21st: Leave for Cairo for "Cairo to Istanbul Adventure":

http://www.gapadventures.com/trips/istanbul-to-cairo-adventure/ETIC/2010/

August 10th: Fly back to Barcelona and start the rest of my adventure!

There might be a Greece trip or a flight back home for a wedding throw in to the end of August, but I , thankfully, don't have to decide that yet!

The Time Off

Time is also running out for planning what I will do in the 2 months between work and school. Here is the plan in my head, which is not being implemented in any way at the moment, and has not been confirmed on any level:

May 28th: Last day of work
June 7th (ish): Fly to Israel
June 14: Start Volunteer Program in Bat Yam, near Tel Aviv
July 8: End of Program
July 15th ish: Leave Israel
Travel: Egypt? Jordan? Turkey? Croatia? --> Need to find some travel partners
August 1st - Arrive in Barcelona, secure apartment
August 5th (ish) - August 19th (ish) - Greece with Starr
August 23rd - Start new Life in Barcelona!!!

Time is running out. I need to start making things happen...